Monday, February 2, 2009

He's Still the Greatest Swimmer

The internet is flooded with the shocking news that Michael Phelps had been photographed smoking a bong pipe. He admitted it and apologized. CNN reports:

"I engaged in behavior which was regrettable and demonstrated bad judgment," the record-setting American athlete said in a statement issued Sunday.

"I'm 23 years old, and despite the successes I have had in the pool, I acted in a youthful and inappropriate way, not in a manner that people have come to expect from me," Phelps said. "For this, I am sorry. I promise my fans and the public -- it will not happen again."

I'm sure he's sincere about that. He's certainly got a lot to lose. The endorsements which followed his astonishing Olympic success amount to an estimated $100 million.

But the reports in today's news point out that in 2004, he was arrested for driving under the influence. At that time he said almost the same thing, apologizing, but qualifying it with mention of his young age.

What does it all mean? Some fans are disappointed; others say he's human like the rest of us. I say, he's not like the rest of us at all. His accomplishments in the sport of swimming are nothing short of miraculous. To have done that while occasionally indulging in drugs and alcohol makes it even more amazing. I'd say it's obvious that his partying was always kept to a minimum, never allowed to interfere, or he wouldn't have achieved what he did.

What I wonder is, could his behaviour with pot and drinking, occasional as it has been, indicate some latent problem that will manifest itself in increased abuse and more trouble in his future? Time will tell.

What's your opinion? Do athletes like Michael have a greater responsibility, being role models and all that? Should they be held to a higher standard? Or should the public stay out of his private life?

9 comments:

"What's your opinion? Do athletes like Michael have a greater responsibility, being role models and all that? Should they be held to a higher standard? Or should the public stay out of his private life?"

Yes the high-standard of being a representative of our nation, as well as the representative of all the companies that are paying him pretty penny to endorse their products.

Damn, he's a young guy who got photographed smoking pot at a party and then the photo gopt plastered all over the place.If anything, it gives the pot legalization forces a shot in the arm so to speak because it would seem that in Phelps case, casual marijuana use has not affected his abilities in the least.He obviously knows the system for drug testing and what the limits are as far as limiting his usage if he wants to compete.If anything the message is to be more discreet with the hypocritical hyperscrutinization that anyone who is in the public eye is subjected to.

Federal consequences:Section 844. Penalties for simple possessionAny person who violates this subsection may be sentenced to a term of imprisonment of not more than 1 year, and shall be fined a minimum of $1,000, or both, except that if he commits such offense after a prior conviction under this subchapter or subchapter II of this chapter, or a prior conviction for any drug, narcotic, or chemical offense chargeable under the law of any State, has become final, he shall be sentenced to a term of imprisonment for not less than 15 days but not more than 2 years, and shall be fined a minimum of $2,500, except, further, that if he commits such offense after two or more prior convictions under this subchapter or subchapter II of this chapter, or two or more prior convictions for any drug, narcotic, or chemical offense chargeable under the law of any State, or a combination of two or more such offenses have become final, he shall be sentenced to a term of imprisonment for not less than 90 days but not more than 3 years, and shall be fined a minimum of $5,000.

Perhaps it is past time to re-consider the ill advised War on Some Drugs....it's meeting with less success then bans and laws against some firearms.

it's okay for people to toke up (I agree) and possibly have to steal to support their drug habit but it isn't okay for people to own firearms because the dopers might steal them to support their drug habit?